Wear plate for unit brake brackets



y 1951 P. WILLIS 2,553,345

WEAR PLATE FOR UNIT BRAKE BRACKETS Filed Aug. 20, 1949 Inventor" Paul WZ'ZZZLS Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE WEARPLATE FOR UNIT BRAKE BRACKETS .ApplicationAugust 20, 1949, Serial No. 111,477

4 Claims.

My invention relates "to an improvement in wear plates, and has for one purpose to provide an improved wear plate for unit brake beam support brackets.

Another purpose is to provide such a wear plate which can readily be applied and readily removed.

Another purpose is to provide a wear plate 'for unit brake beam support brackets which yieldingly locks itself in position when inserted, and which can readily :be inserted without undergoing damage by the operator.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate the invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View, with parts'broken away;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective View, on a smaller scale, of a part of a unit brake beam support illustrating the bracket to which the wear plate is to be applied; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the end portion of a brake beam utilizable with the unit brake beam support bracket to which my wear plate is to be applied.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I generally indi cates a unit brake beam structure which includes a unitary bracket having a lower flange 2, an upper flange 3, an end flange 4, and :an opposite end opening 5 bounded by a lower flange 2a and an upper flange 3a. The flange 2 is shown as penetrated by apertures 21), and the flange 3 by corresponding apertures 31). I generally indicates a brake beam structure having an end portion H adapted to ride between the lower and upper bracket flanges 2 and 3. In the use of such structures it is advantageous to provide a removable wear plate which receives the brake beam portion H and holds it out of wearing contact with the permanent unitary portions of the support bracket. However, it is important that any such wear plate be easily applied, and that it look itself firmly in position, when applied against unintended removal.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, I illustrate a readily removable wear plate which may advantageously be applied for use with the structures of Figures 3 and 4. The wear plate includes a lower portion or flange l and a corresponding upper portion or flange I6, the two flanges being connected by a generally upright end portion I! and tapered or converging connecting portions Ila and Ill). The lower component l-5 has a downwardly extending front flange [5a. A corresponding flange [6a is upturned from the forward edge of the portion l6.

Upwardly extending from the rear edge of the member I5 is the flange l5b, aligned with the downwardly bent flange lG-b of the member 16. As will be clear from Figure l, the flanges 15b and IE2) have their maximum height at the ends approaching the connection I! between the members l5 and I6. From that point of maximum extension they taper apart toward the opposite end of the wear plate, in such fashion that they do not interfere with a substantial bending together of the members I5 and H3 at the time of insertion of the wear plate. However, they are of such elevation as to prevent the parts from being bent toward each other a sufficient distance permanently to deform the connecting portions l1, Na, and I 1b. The member I 5 has downwardly extending offsets or dimples l5c, whereas the member I6 has upwardly extending offsets or dimples 160, these dimples being alignable respectively with the apertures 2b and 3b of the bracket elements shown in Figure 3.

In the use of the device, any suitable tool or tools may be employed to urge the members l5 and Hi somewhat toward each other, the por' tions ll, Ila and I lb being so shaped and proportioned as to permit adequate flexure for that purpose. The wear plate unit may .be .held by any suitable clamping or gripping means, and, with the upper and lower parts adequately moved toward each other, it can be slipped directly into the space between the bracket flanges 2 and 3. The portions ll, Ila and I'll) readily pass through the end opening 5 of the bracket. The'wear plate is so positioned that, when the parts are released, the dimples I50 enter the apertures 2b, and the dimples |6c enter the apertures 3b. Since either spring stock or stock of adequate elasticity is employed, the parts [5 and I6 are yieldingly held in the proper position to maintain the said dimples in looking or interpenetrating relation with the said apertures. As a result, the wear plate stays solidly in position until an operator, with any suitable tool or tools, moves the members l5 and. IE toward each other a suflicient distance to clear the dimples and to permit outward withdrawal of the wear plate for repair or renewal.

7 It will be understood, of course, that the brackand claimed a practical and operative device,

nevertheless, many changes may be made in size,

shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to the structure as specifically herein described or shown.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

I employ a wear plate which may consist of a steel tempered plate having lower and upper portions I5, l6 of a proper size to cover the wearing surface of the bracket flanges 2 and 3'. The space between the rear flanges or bends I51) and lBb provides adequate compression space for applying the wear plate. The use of wear plates is effective to prevent wear on the truck side frame brackets between which the unit brake beam portion I I slides. The brake beam is held in a fixedv line in relation to the wheel, for properly controlling the brake shoe head and shoe contact when the brakes are applied or released by air or hand brake in combination with whatever levers and springs are employed for this purpose. Since the brake actuating structure does not form part of the present invention it is not herein shown; neither is the brake shoe illustrated.

A major purpose of thepresent. invention is to employ a spring-designed wear plate which keeps a tight flt and avoids the wear which is caused if a loose wear plate is employed. The inverted projections on the bottom and top surfaces of the members l5 and I6 assist in holding the wear plate in position and add to, the stability of the plate in use. The plate is readily applied without distortion, as it readily stands, the degree of flexure necessary for its insertion. Thus a full contact on all opposed surfaces is insured. I find it advantageousto have the locking projections on the open end, or left-hand end, referring to the position of parts as shown in Figure 1, somewhat higher than those on .the closed end.

I claim:

1. A wear plate for unit brake beam support brackets, which includes an upper flange and a lower flange resiliently interconnected at one end,

said flanges being free at the opposite ends and along their edges, locking projections extending upwardly from the upper flange and downwardly from the lower flange, said flanges having, along their forward edges, outwardly'bent portions, and having along their rear edges inwardly bent portions, said inwardly bent portions decreasing in height from the spring end toward the free end of the wear plate.

2. A wear plate for unit brake beam support brackets, which includes an upper flange and a lower flange resiliently interconnected at one end, said flanges being free at the opposite ends and along their edges, locking projections extending upwardly from the upper flange and downwardly from the lower flange, said flanges having, along their forward edges, outwardly bent portions, and having along their rear edges inwardly bent portions.

3. A wear plate for unit brake beam support brackets which includes an upper and a lower flange, the two flanges resiliently interconnected at one end only, the spring connection being of substantially less width than the maximum width of the flanges, said flanges being free at their opposite ends and along their edges, said flanges having, along their forward edges, outwardly bent portions, and having, along their rear edges, inwardly bent portions, said bent portions being generally perpendicular to the flanges, the flanges being forwardly cutaway adjacent their said a spring connection, whereby the outwardly bent flange portions are spaced forwardly from the forward edge of the spring connection, and the. inwardly bent portions are located in general alignment with the inner edge of the spring connection, the upper flange having upwardly,

extending locking projections and the downward flange having downwardly extending locking projections; V.

4. The structure of claim 3 characterized in that said inwardly bent portions decrease in height from the spring end toward the free end of the wear plate and are thereby adapted tov limit the approach of the flanges toward each other in the course of the insertion of thewear plate.

PAUL WILLIS.

Name Date Busch Dec. 26, 1944 Number 

